LOS ANGELES (AP) — National Guard troops will be pulled out of California cities, including San Diego, where they’ve been deployed for a week after rampant violence and theft marred the first days of protests over the death of George Floyd.
The announcement comes as peaceful demonstrations again emerged across the state.
In San Diego County, about 100 National Guard troops had been stationed in La Mesa while another 100 were in an undisclosed area ready to move anywhere in the county. San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore requested the troops to assist with security following looting and rioting in La Mesa last weekend.
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"Tonight, [California Army Guard] troops have left [San Diego County]. We want to thank them for supporting [San Diego Sheriff Department] and our partner law enforcement agencies to ensure the protection of life and property while balancing people’s right to assemble peacefully," Gore tweeted.
A timeline for the Guard pullout was not provided, but Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said some troops would begin departing Sunday evening.
Meanwhile the Compton Cowboys, a group of mostly African American horse enthusiasts, wore boots and ten-gallon hats during a “ride for peace” through urban neighborhoods south of Los Angeles.
